The Washington critic., 1887-12-19
YESTERDAY IN EUROPE.

Inc mllltary council Ill Nlennh yes
terday was presided over by Emperor
Francis Joseph. There were present
Her Won Tisza, Hungarian Prime Minis
ter; Count Won Taafc, Minister OF the
Interior; Count Kalnoky, Count
Bylandt-Phevdt, Imperial Minister of
War; Herr Won Kalay, Imperial Minis
ter of Finance; Archduke Albiecht, Count
Won Welserneimb, Minister of Defense
of Austria, and Baron von Fejervary,
Minister of Defense of Hungary. Prior
to and after the council Herr Won Tisza
had a conference with Count Kalnoky.
The council resolved that the uneN-
pended portion of the credit oil o2,Ooo.-
BOO florins voted last spring shall be
,pplied TO the purchase of equipments
and construction of huts for troops in
Galicia. No increase of the forces in
Galicia has yet been decided upon, and
II there IL no further augmentation OF
Russian troops on the frontier Austria
will adhere to the policy of observation
Another military council has been sum-
moned for to-day.
It Is semi.oflicially stated that the
Austrian Cabinet shares in the belief
that good relations with Russia will be
maintained. No difference exists except
with respect to Bulgaria, Russia is
ready TO assist in n pacific solution of the
question, but the announcement in the
Invalide Russo that Russia projects
whole series of military measures, on
which the recent increase of forces in
Poland Ia only part, cnjoins increased
military vigilance. Austria must keep
pace with Russia's plans. Count Won
Taafc and Herr von Tisza agree that the
summoning Of the delegations in the
meantime would be inopporiunc.
The prospect of war on the Galician
frontier is the one topic Of discussion in
Europe. The English and continental
journals continue to publish articles,
varying in length from column to n
page, discussing the chances of an al
most immediate war. Military circles
in Berlin are imbued with the convic-
ton that war is imminent, but there is a
suspicion that in this case the wish is
father to the thought. One high official
in the German military service is quoted
as saying that the situation has assumed
q phase making it possible that war may
come over night.
The London Observer, on the other
hand, while deprccating hostilities as
the result Of any of the existing differ
enccs between the European Powers, be-
lieves that there will be no war.
EVERY one" II says, "inclnes to the
belief that a war precipitated by Russia
is inevitable, but this Is hardly possible.
Whether Russia wants to fight or not
and it is doubtful if she docs-there can
be no war without the consent of Ger
many, and thus far there is no reason
for assuming that she cntertains wish
for war" The Vienna correspondent of
the Daily News says: Austria and Ger
many are acting like one nation with re-
gard to the war scare. Austria takes no
step without Germany's approval.
General Won schweinitz, German
Ambassador to Russia, returns with con-
ciliatory instructions to the Gar.
Prince Bismarck has advised Austria TO
avoid provoking Russia while strength
ening her fortlfcations. The meeting
between the Emperor and Count Won
Moltke Saturday was not a military
council, as has been enormously re-
ported.
The English Government has de.
termined to prosecute the editor or pub
Usher of every newspaper publishing
reports of meetings of league branches
whose suppression has been proclaimed,
and II is asserted that Mr.. O'Brlen will
be rearrested the moment his present
term of imprisonment expires unless his
paper, United Ireland, ceases, in the
meantime, Its persistent repetitions ol
the offense for which its editor was in
dicted and Jailed. 1t is probable tina
the present week will witness vigorous
enforcement Of the Crimes act in Ireland
in pursuance of instructions just issued
and dispatched post haste to Dublin
castle.
Mr.. Barrett, who was arrested recently
on charge of obstructing the Irish
police, but whose case was dismissed fol
lack of evidence, has expressed his de
termination to continue his action fo
libel against Chief Secretary Balfour fo
having stated in public speech tha
Barrett had been convicted. Mr.. Bal
four. when his attention was called Il
the inaccuracy of the statement, wrote
letter to the press to correct his mistake
but Mr.. Barrett does not deem the Sec
retary's explanation adequate and vii
have nothing less than an abjcct apolog
or substantial damages, at the hands o
a court of law, neither of which, how
ever, he is likely to get.